LATE CHANGE: Alex Silvagni will be replaced in the selected side by Hayden Crozier.
Tom Sheridan will start the match as the sub.
Fremantle defender Garrick Ibbotson is among the three inclusions to the team for Friday night’s clash against Hawthorn at the MCG.
Also named in the side were midfielder Lachie Neale and defender Alex Silvagni.
The three players out were all forced omissions, with Nat Fyfe and Zac Dawson suspended and Michael Barlow injured.
Fyfe, Dawson accept bans - Barlow out
The emergencies for the game are Hayden Crozier, Zac Clarke and Clancee Pearce.
Freo general manager of football operations Chris Bond admitted the team had been dealt a significant hit through injury and suspension, but he said history showed the club could fill those gaps.
“Obviously, there’s been some key players come out of our midfield, but we’ve had that in the past and we think that we’ve got some talented players who can come through there,” he said.
“Garrick Ibbotson comes back into the team, he’s played the majority of his football in the backline, but he’s a versatile player and he can certainly play up the ground.
“Lachie Neale will play there as well, and we’ve got existing players who will continue their developments and, hopefully, do the job for us.”
The Hawks will be missing captain Luke Hodge, while key players Brad Sewell, Ryan Schoenmakers, Ben Stratton and Norm Smith Medallist Brian Lake will also not play.
Hodge out
Bond said the reigning premiers had also proved they could cover for missing players.
“They have the ability to get the job done, no matter who is in their team,” he said.
“They’ve missed a few players, either through injury or through suspension, (but) they still get the job done and, no matter what, (they) just find a way that they can grind a goal.”
Bond labelled Alastair Clarkson’s team as very talented and said Freo was well aware of the huge task ahead.
“They’re extremely well structured (and) they play a very hard brand of football,” he said.
“We know that we are playing against the best team in the competition.
“It’s going to be a significant task for us, but we think our players that jumped on the plane are really looking forward to the challenge.”
